Into the Knock-Out Phase

Aris Salonika needed to get a draw with Bayern Munich last night to ensure that Bolton got knocked out of the UEFA Cup, but they didn't quite manage it! In fact they got battered 6 - 0!

So now Bolton go through to the knock-out phase in which they will play one of the teams who finished top of their group on a home and away basis. The aggregate score will decide who progresses.

Bolton will face one of the following:

Everton, Panathinaikos, Villareal, Hamburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Getafe or Bordeaux

Everton are English, Panathinaikos are Greek, Villareal and Getafe are Spanish, Hamburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich are German. Getafe lost 3 - 1 at home to Villareal last sunday and are currently struggling at 14th out of 20 in the Spanish Primera Liga whilst Villareal are ten places above them, Panathinaiakos lost their last game (on Saturday) but are currently 3rd in the Greek Super League while in the German Bundesliga, Bayern Munich are top, Hamburg are third and Bayer Leverkusen (who received a 5 - 2 thrashing on Saturday) are fourth! Finally Bordeaux are third in the French Ligue 1.

So, all in all, in order to keep progressing in the Uefa Cup, I think Bolton's best chance lies in being drawn against Getafe. Of course, if they do draw Getafe, it means that my mate keefieboy will have the opportunity to go and watch the match as Getafe is a city in the southern zone of the Madrid metropolitan area. And Keefieboy lives in Madrid!

The draw is made tomorrow.